Acronychia pubescens
Encyclopedia
Acronychia pubescens is a rainforest
plant in the citrus family
, growing in eastern Australia
. Common names include Hairy Aspen and Hairy Acronychia.
The leaves usually form in threes, occasionally in ones or twos. The compound leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem. The leaf stem is between 0.8 and 8 cm long. Leaflets are 5.5 to 22 cm long and 1.8 to 7.7 cm wide, without leaf stems. They are lanceolate in shape, with a blunt point, though occasionally the point will be sharper; the top surface of the leaflets is downy, particularly along the mid-rib, but they are hairier under the leaf. Oil dots are not visible. Leaf veins easily noticed, particularly under the leaf. The mid-rib is usually sunken on the top side, and all veins raised under the leaf. The greenish fawn flowers form from March to June in lateral or axillary cymes. The cymes are around 25 cm (10 in) long, and individual flowers are hairy and 8 mm long. The hairy leaves distinguish them from other members of the genus.
The fruit matures from January to March, but ripe fruit may also be found in all months. The fruit is hairy, fleshy and ridged, a yellow drupe
, 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with an acid or turpentine flavour. There are one to three seeds per fruit. Seeds are a dark grey or black, with a shape resembling a miniature canoe.
Removal of the flesh from the seed is advised for regeneration. Around a half of the seeds may germinate in seven months. Cuttings may also be attempted.
in 1891 after a collection from the Blackall Range. It gained its current binomial name in 1939 when reclassified by his grandson, Queensland Government Botanist Cyril Tenison White
. The specific epithet pubescens means hairy, referring to the downy leaves.
to the Blackall Range
in south eastern Queensland
. The habitat is of several rainforest types; including subtropical rainforest on red/brown basalt
ic soils, littoral rainforest and riverine rainforest. Most often seen in warm temperate rainforest at higher altitudes.
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
plant in the citrus family
Rutaceae
Rutaceae, commonly known as the rue or citrus family, is a family of flowering plants, usually placed in the order Sapindales.Species of the family generally have flowers that divide into four or five parts, usually with strong scents...
, growing in eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Common names include Hairy Aspen and Hairy Acronychia.
Description
Acronychia pubescens grows as a small tree up to 15 metres (50 ft) in height and with a stem diameter of 18 cm (7 in). The trunk is mostly cylindrical, but occasionally with flanges at the base. Bark is greyish brown and relatively smooth. Small branchlets are downy, of a golden colour. Leaf scars easily noticed.The leaves usually form in threes, occasionally in ones or twos. The compound leaves are arranged oppositely on the stem. The leaf stem is between 0.8 and 8 cm long. Leaflets are 5.5 to 22 cm long and 1.8 to 7.7 cm wide, without leaf stems. They are lanceolate in shape, with a blunt point, though occasionally the point will be sharper; the top surface of the leaflets is downy, particularly along the mid-rib, but they are hairier under the leaf. Oil dots are not visible. Leaf veins easily noticed, particularly under the leaf. The mid-rib is usually sunken on the top side, and all veins raised under the leaf. The greenish fawn flowers form from March to June in lateral or axillary cymes. The cymes are around 25 cm (10 in) long, and individual flowers are hairy and 8 mm long. The hairy leaves distinguish them from other members of the genus.
The fruit matures from January to March, but ripe fruit may also be found in all months. The fruit is hairy, fleshy and ridged, a yellow drupe
Drupe
In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries...
, 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with an acid or turpentine flavour. There are one to three seeds per fruit. Seeds are a dark grey or black, with a shape resembling a miniature canoe.
Removal of the flesh from the seed is advised for regeneration. Around a half of the seeds may germinate in seven months. Cuttings may also be attempted.
Taxonomy
Commonly known as the hairy aspen or hairy acronychia, the species was first described as Melicope pubescens by Frederick Manson BaileyFrederick Manson Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey CMG was a botanist active in Australia, who made valuable contributions to the characterisation of the flora of Queensland.-Early life:...
in 1891 after a collection from the Blackall Range. It gained its current binomial name in 1939 when reclassified by his grandson, Queensland Government Botanist Cyril Tenison White
Cyril Tenison White
Cyril Tenison White was an Australian botanist.White was born in Brisbane to Henry White, a trade broker, and Louisa nee Bailey...
. The specific epithet pubescens means hairy, referring to the downy leaves.
Distribution and habitat
It ranges from Urunga in northern New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
to the Blackall Range
Blackall Range
The Blackall Range is a mountain range in South East Queensland, Australia. The first European explorer in the area was Ludwig Leichhardt. It was named after Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland....
in south eastern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. The habitat is of several rainforest types; including subtropical rainforest on red/brown basalt
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
ic soils, littoral rainforest and riverine rainforest. Most often seen in warm temperate rainforest at higher altitudes.